It was entered by way of the Rue du Calvaire, a street which is simply a succession of ladder-like flights of steps.

The door opened on to one of the little landings, and one found oneself in a spacious, well-lighted apartment littered with models and casts, fragments and figures, quite an overflow of sturdy, powerful talent.

On a stool was the unfinished model of Fecundity swathed in wet cloths.

These Jahan removed, and then she stood forth with her rounded figure, her broad hips and her wifely, maternal bosom, full of the milk which nourishes and redeems.
"Well, what do you think of her ?" asked Jahan.

"Built as she is, I fancy that her children ought to be less puny than the pale, languid, aesthetic fellows of nowadays!" While Antoine and Francois were admiring the figure, Pierre, for his part, took most interest in a young girl who had opened the door to them, and who had now wearily reseated herself at a little table to continue a book she was reading.